Is There a Relationship Between CAD and ED?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and erectile dysfunction share a number of vascular risk factors. CAD is characterized by endothelial dysfunction, and an erection is a physical event that requires endothelially-derived vasodilation, induced by nitric oxide. Risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, tobacco use and obesity also contribute to endothelial dysfunction. If you have erectile dysfunction and CAD, affordable health care in Las Vegas can help you with a treatment solution for both conditions.

A study carried out on men between the ages of 40 and 60, with both conditions, found that men with erectile dysfunction had a two fold increase in risk of heart attack. Having one or more risk factors also prevents the arteries from dilating fully when stimulated. When a man presents with erectile dysfunction, he should be tested for other conditions like diabetes, hypertension and risk factors like smoking and lack of exercise.

Studies show that ED might be an early warning sign that a man is at risk of vascular abnormalities with endothelial dysfunction or a problem with endothelial-independent vasodilation or CAD. According to the Sexual health Inventory for Men or SHIM, which surveyed 76 men with chronic stable CAD, 70 per cent had erectile dysfunction and 75 per cent had a history of ED.

Fortunately sildenafil has proven to be an effective treatment for CAD and ED. 70 per cent of men with both conditions reported better erections after using the medication. A more recent study has found a 64 per cent improvement in erection quality and a 65 per cent improvement in intercourse by patients with both ED and CAD. Significantly, sildenafil was more effective in men with both conditions than in men who just had erectile dysfunction.

Vasodilation in the coronary artery and in the blood vessels in the penis can be compromised by atherosclerosis or arterial build up, as a result of a lifetime of smoking, diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol consumption amongst many other things. PDE 5 inhibitors have shown success at treating both conditions, because they allow for better expansion of the blood vessels and better blood flow to the vital organs, but they cannot cure either condition. If you start taking a PDE 5 inhibitor, you will need medication on a constant basis to keep them under control. Doctors at clinics in Las Vegas can advise you on the best course of treatment for your particular symptoms and medical history.